Arias 'voodoo doll' a big hit until eBay takes it down

Cynthia Scanlan created the Jodi Arias voodoo doll and said she had overwhelmingly positive response on eBay until it was taken down. (Source: CBS 5 News)

PHOENIX (CBS5) -

If there was any doubt people are obsessed with the Jodi Arias trial, one only has to be introduced to the Jodi Arias "voodoo doll."

While it initially blew up eBay online, it won't be found there now.

Cynthia Scanlan created the Jodi Arias voodoo doll, placing her creation on the popular internet consumer site, but a little black magic made it disappear.

The first-degree murder trial of the 32-year-old Arias has sex, intrigue, lies and ties to the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The national appeal has been unmistakable with internet audiences flocking to cbs5az.com for the daily live streams, and national news shows such as CNN's Headline News and Nancy Grace placing the trial center stage on their broadcasts.

"There's a beautiful lady who's accused of a horrible crime," Scanlan said. "She also, I think, is a very evil person and possibly a sociopath."

That perceived evil cast a spell on Scanlan.

"I think it looks reasonably enough like her," Scanlan said as she showed off her creation while admitting that she "never sewed a doll" before.

Scanlan said the voodoo vision came to her while she was in the shower.

So, stitch by stitch, it took two days to sew the creation by hand, right down to her Mormon baptism gown and well-publicized underwear.

"The biggest challenge, no doubt, was the panties," which sport the first name of Arias' ex-lover, Travis Alexander, who she said she killed in self-defense in his shower in 2008.

The mini murder suspect is now a pin cushion for personal rage.

"A lot of the emotions she stirs in me, I think she absolutely stirs in other people," Scanlan said.

She listed the doll on eBay this week and was shocked at the huge response.

"I actually had 914 people who had viewed it in just two days," she said. "I got one negative comment that said it was tasteless."

But a short time later Scanlan received an email from eBay, saying the listing was removed because it could be considered inappropriate or insensitive to victims of human tragedies.

"I think that they think it's offensive because she is on trial for murder," Scanlan said.

But is eBay guilty of a double standard? Ebay has auctioned off Arias' own artwork for weeks, including a listing that went online just Thursday.

"The person who perpetrated the crime is the one who's really making money on it, which is crazy," Scanlan said.

As for Arias' artwork, eBay released a statement which reads, in part:

"The items themselves are not offensive as they meet the criteria for the types of art we allow on our site. However, if Arias is convicted, we will evaluate and remove items as appropriate," eBay announced, because it would then fall under items related to violent felons.

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